Headrest assembly with friction hinge

ABSTRACT

A headrest assembly for use in a vehicle includes a housing having a front portion and a rear portion. The headrest assembly also includes an armature operatively coupling the rear portion to a seatback of an automobile seat. The front portion includes a central panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, wherein the first side panel pivots relative to the central panel about a first vertical axis, and the second side panel pivots relative to the central panel about a second vertical axis. The headrest assembly also includes a first spring clip assembly connecting the first side panel to a side of the central panel and a second spring clip assembly connecting the second side panel to an opposite side of the central panel, the first and second spring clip assemblies maintaining an angular position of the first and second side panels absent manual adjustment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 63/076,565, filed Sep. 10, 2020, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to vehicle headrests and, moreparticularly, to a headrest assembly that is adjustable with a frictionhinge.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Technological improvements of automobiles have generally been focused oncategorical enhancements to efficiency, safety and comfort. Often, animprovement in one category detracts from one of the other categories.For example, there has been a consistent struggle throughout thehistorical development of automobiles to find a balance between strengthand weight. While incorporating stronger components may ultimately leadto a safer driving experience, stronger materials are typically heavierthan other materials and thus detract from operational efficiency, e.g.,fuel economy. Similarly, a focus primarily on efficiency can lead tocomponents that are vulnerable to accidents and normal wear and tear.

One example component of an automobile that has historically beendeveloped with an emphasis on strength and comfort is a headrest. Mostautomobiles include headrests atop an occupant's seat and in a positionadjacent the occupant's head. Because headrests are specificallydesigned to interface with an occupant's head, they must be comfortableboth tactilely and positionally. In addition to comfort, headrests mustbe able to withstand amounts of impact to prevent whiplash to theoccupant during a collision and, to a certain extent, block foreignobjects in the event of a crash or sudden braking situation.Developments in comfort functionality and, more particularly, positionaladjustment for both safety and comfort have resulted in headrests havingrelatively complicated adjustment mechanisms that allow several users ofvarying sizes and preferences to adjust to the headrest to an idealposition.

Accordingly, there is a continued desire to develop headrests thatprovide positional comfort, that are strong, and that are relativelyinexpensive to produce and assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not tobe interpreted as a complete and comprehensive listing of all of theobjects, aspects, features and advantages associated with the presentdisclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a headrest assembly foruse in a vehicle includes a housing having a front portion and a rearportion, the front portion including a central panel, a first sidepanel, and a second side panel. The headrest assembly also includes afirst spring clip connecting the first side panel to a first side of thecentral panel. The headrest assembly further includes a second springclip connecting the second side panel to a second side of the centralpanel. The headrest assembly yet further includes a first pinoperatively coupled to the first side panel and rotatable within aportion of the first spring clip to allow rotation of the first sidepanel relative to the central panel. The headrest assembly also includesa second pin operatively coupled to the second side panel and rotatablewithin a portion of the second spring clip to allow rotation of thesecond side panel relative to the central panel. Each of the firstspring clip and the second spring clip includes a tail portion coupledto the central portion. Each of the first spring clip and the secondspring clip also includes a cam portion in contact with the respectivepin to maintain an angular position of the first side panel and thesecond side panel relative to the central panel.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a headrest assembly foruse in a vehicle includes a housing having a front portion and a rearportion. The headrest assembly also includes an armature operativelycoupling the rear portion to a seatback of an automobile seat. Theheadrest assembly further includes the front portion including a centralpanel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The headrestassembly yet further includes a first spring clip connecting the firstside panel to a side of the central panel and a second spring clipconnecting the second side panel to an opposite side of the centralpanel. The first spring clip and second spring clip each include a camportion to allow the first side panel and the second side panel to pivotabout at least one substantially vertical axis relative to the centralpanel.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, a headrest assemblyfor use in a vehicle includes a housing having a front portion and arear portion. The headrest assembly also includes an armatureoperatively coupling the rear portion to a seatback of an automobileseat. The front portion includes a central panel, a first side panel,and a second side panel, wherein the first side panel pivots relative tothe central panel about a first vertical axis, and the second side panelpivots relative to the central panel about a second vertical axis. Theheadrest assembly also includes a first spring clip assembly connectingthe first side panel to a side of the central panel and a second springclip assembly connecting the second side panel to an opposite side ofthe central panel, the first and second spring clip assembliesmaintaining an angular position of the first and second side panelsabsent manual adjustment.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. The inventive concepts associated with the presentdisclosure will be more readily understood by reference to the followingdescription in combination with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a headrest assembly for anautomobile in a non-adjusted position;

FIG. 2 is front perspective view of the headrest assembly in an adjustedposition wherein a front portion is pivoted relative to a rear portion;

FIG. 3 is rear perspective view of the headrest assembly in the adjustedposition;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a frame of the front portion inthe non-adjusted position;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the frame of the front portion inthe non-adjusted position;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the frame of the front portion inthe adjusted position, wherein the frame includes a pair of moveableside panels;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the frame of the front portion inthe adjusted position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a spring clip that effectuates movementof the side panels;

FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the spring clip;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the spring clip;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the spring clip with a pin inserted therein;and

FIG. 12 is a graphical illustration of the spring clip that comparesvalues of the stress to the values of strain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings. In general, the subject embodiments aredirected to a headrest assembly for an automobile, with the headrestassembly including two moveable side panels that are each pivotal aboutan axis. However, the example embodiments are only provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to thosewho are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth suchas examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide athorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that some specific details neednot be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in manydifferent forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scopeof the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate correspondingparts throughout the views, the headrest assembly is intended forproviding an enhanced travel experience to occupants of an automobile byallowing the headrest assembly to be adjustable about at least onevertical axis.

Referring to FIG. 1, a headrest assembly is depicted. The headrestassembly is generally referred to with numeral 10. The headrest assembly10 includes a housing 12 that at least partially encloses severalcomponents associated with stabilization and/or adjustment of theheadrest assembly 10. A cushion and a cover (not shown) may be providedover the housing 12 for aesthetic purposes and occupant comfort, i.e.,tactile comfort. A base portion 13 (which may also be referred to as“armature”) is mountable to an automobile seat and, more specifically,to a top surface of a seatback of the automobile seat (not shown). Thehousing 12 includes a rear portion 16 and a front portion 14. The rearportion 16 is connected to the armature 13 and the front portion 14 isconnected to the rear portion 16 such that vertical movement of armature13 moves both the rear portion 16 and front portion 14. However, in someembodiments the front portion 14 may be independently moveable in thevertical direction relative to the rear portion 14. The headrestassembly 10 in FIG. 1 is shown in a non-adjusted position, wherein thefront portion 14 is located in a default position with respect to therear portion 16 such that the front portion 14 is primarily planar.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front portion 14 includes acentral panel 18, a first side panel 20, and a second side panel 22. Thefirst side panel 20 and the second side panel 22 are spaced apart by,and on opposite sides of, the central panel 18. The headrest assembly 10is shown in the adjusted position wherein one or both of the first sidepanel 20 and second side panel 22 have been pivoted about at least onesubstantially vertical axis (V1 or V2) with respect to the central panel18 with the outer edges of the side panels 20, 22 moved away from therear portion 16 of the headrest assembly 10. More particularity, thefirst panel 20 pivots about a first vertical axis V1 and the secondpanel 22 pivots about a second vertical axis V2 (FIG. 2). As notedabove, axes V1 and V2 may be referred to herein as vertical axes, but itis to be understood that these are “substantially” vertical axes, suchthat literally vertical may be present in some embodiments. The firstvertical axis V1 and the second vertical axis V2 may be substantiallyvertical, meaning that they allow the first and second panels 20, 22 tobe pivoted or otherwise adjusted to different positions to providevaried support to a user's head in the cross-car and fore-aftdirections.

One or more adjacent vertical edges of the side panels 20, 22, andcentral panel 18 may include a tapered surface 23 so that the pivotalmovement is not encumbered. The pivoting and pivotal movement describedherein may also be referred to as rotating or tilting action. The extentof the movement of the headrest 10 may vary depending upon theparticular application of use. In some arrangements, the first sidepanel 20 and second side panel 22 may both be pivotal up to about 180°to bring the first side panel 20 and second side panel 22 intosubstantially flush contact with the central panel 18. In otherarrangements the first side panel 20 and second side panel 22 may bepivotal to a smaller degree, such as up to 90°, up to 45°, or 45° orless, for example. As best shown in FIG. 2, the rear portion 16 includesa connection plate 24 that is connected to the central panel 18.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the central panel 18 includes acentral frame 28, the first side panel 20 includes a first side frame30, and the second side panel 22 includes a second side frame 32. Theframe members 28, 30, 32 are formed of a rigid material. A first springclip 34 pivotally connects the first side frame 30 to the central frame28 and a second spring clip 36 pivotally connects the second side frame32 to the central frame 28. Both spring clips 34, 36 include a camportion 40 and a tail portion 42. The tail portion 42 is staticallyconnected to the central frame 28 and the cam portion 40 is pivotallyattached to one of the side frames 30, 32. As will be described ingreater detail below, the first spring clip 34 and the second springclip 36 are configured to pivot in opposite rotational directions,relative to each other.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the first side frame 30 and the secondside frame 32 each include a support rim 44 surrounding edges of theside frames 30, 32 that are non-adjacent to the central panel 18. Thefirst side frame 30 and second side frame 32 each also include a set ofvertically spaced support ribs 46 that extend in the cross-car directionfrom the support rim 44 and terminate at a pin holding portion 48adjacent to the central panel 18. A pin 50 that connects to the springclip 34, 36 is located in each pin holding portion 48 such that itextends vertically between support ribs 46 about the first vertical axisV1 or the second vertical axis V2. The central frame 28 includes acentral frame rim 52 that extends along opposite edges of the centralframe 28 that are non-adjacent to the side panels 20, 22. As such, thesupport rim 44 of the side frames 30, 32 and the central frame rim 52 ofthe central frame 28 outline the entire frame assembly 28, 30, 32. Thecentral frame 28 further includes a plurality of spaced apertures 53 forweight and material reduction that also ease installation and connectionto corresponding parts, such as the rear portion 16, other parts of thecentral panel 18, and the cover and cushion.

With reference now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the frame assembly is shown in theadjusted position corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the adjustedposition, one or both of the side frames 30, 32 have been pivotedrelative to the central frame 28. More particularly, the adjustedposition is accomplished when movement of the side frames 30, 32 causeto the pin 50 to rotate within the cam portion 40 of the spring clip 34,36. The cam portion 40 is sized to squeeze the pin 50 such that theangle of the side frames 30, 32 with respect to the central frame 28 ismaintained absent manual adjustments. As best shown in FIG. 8, each pin50 includes a central shaft 60 that interfaces with the cam portion 40and a pair of flat sections 62 on opposite ends of the shaft 60. Eachflat section 62 includes a hole 64 for statically connecting the pin 50to the ribs 46 with a fastener 66 (see FIG. 5).

The spring clip 34, 36 and pin 50 are shown from a perspective view inFIGS. 8 and 9. As best shown in FIG. 8, the cam portion 40 has asemi-circle shaped opening 67 defined by a plurality of three fingers68, which in some arrangements may include at least one finger 68, and aside wall 69 (FIG. 9). The three fingers 68 includes two outer fingers68 and one central finger 68. The two outer fingers 68 include dimples70 extending inwardly into the opening 67 towards the pin 50. Eachfinger 68 further includes a flared portion 72 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) tofacilitate insertion of the pin 50.

As best shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a pair of support brackets 74 extendsbetween the tail portion 42 and the cam portion 40 of the spring clip34, 36. The tail portion 42 includes a hook 75 opposite the cam portion40 that fits into corresponding grooves 76 (see FIG. 6) within thecentral frame 28. A pair of dimples 70 are located on the opposite sideof the opening 67 from the dimples 70 on the fingers 68. In FIG. 10 thecam portion 40 is shown without the pin 50 inserted therein and in FIG.11 the cam portion 40 is shown with the pin 50 inserted therein. Whenthe pin 50 is not inserted within the cam portion 40, the fingers 68 areloaded such that a semi-circular opening 67 is smaller than the pin 50.As such, insertion of the pin 50 causes the fingers 68 to flex outwardlyand forcefully bias towards the pin 50, causing the dimples 70 to pressinto the pin 50.

FIG. 12 provides a graphical representation of the spring clip 34, 36that compares values of the stress to the values of strain. Depending onthe application, the spring clip 34, 36 and pin 50 may be configuredsuch that the spring clip 34, 36 operates between the yield stress (Y)and the ultimate tensile strength (UTS). As illustrated, the pin 50 maybe sized to effectuate elastic deformation, plastic deformation, or acombination of deformation within the cam 40 of the spring clips 34, 36.Modifying values of materials and sizes can be used to vary the springclip 34, 36 and pin 50 tolerances. In one example arrangement, thespring clip 34, 36 is formed out of 1074-1075 tempered spring steel andthe pin is formed of 1038 steel with an HRC of 47 to 55. However, it isto be understood that this example is non-limiting since it iscontemplated that one skilled in the art may find suitable alternativematerials.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with onlya limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood thatthe invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention mayinclude only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, butis only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A headrest assembly for use in a vehiclecomprising: a housing having a front portion and a rear portion, thefront portion including a central panel, a first side panel, and asecond side panel; a first spring clip connecting the first side panelto a first side of the central panel; a second spring clip connectingthe second side panel to a second side of the central panel; a first pinoperatively coupled to the first side panel and rotatable within aportion of the first spring clip to allow rotation of the first sidepanel relative to the central panel; and a second pin operativelycoupled to the second side panel and rotatable within a portion of thesecond spring clip to allow rotation of the second side panel relativeto the central panel; wherein each of the first spring clip and thesecond spring clip comprises: a tail portion coupled to the centralportion; and a cam portion in contact with the respective pin tomaintain an angular position of the first side panel and the second sidepanel relative to the central panel.
 2. The headrest assembly of claim1, wherein each of the first pin and the second pin comprises a centralportion and a pair of planar end segments.
 3. The headrest assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the central portion has a circular cross-section. 4.The headrest assembly of claim 2, wherein each end of the pair of planarend segments defines an aperture for receiving a fastener that connectsthe pin to one of the first and second side panels.
 5. The headrestassembly of claim 1, wherein the first side panel and the second sidepanel pivot in an opposite rotational directions about at least onevertical axis between a non-adjusted position and an adjusted position.6. The headrest assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one verticalaxis includes a first vertical axis and a second vertical axis, thesecond vertical axis spaced from the first vertical axis, and whereinthe first side panel pivots about the first vertical axis and the secondside panel pivots about the second vertical axis.
 7. The headrestassembly of claim 6, wherein the first side panel and the second sidepanel are each pivotable about their respective vertical axis up to arotational angle of 90 degrees.
 8. The headrest assembly of claim 6,wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are eachpivotable about their respective vertical axis up to a rotational angleof 45 degrees.
 9. The headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the firstspring clip and the second spring clip are each configured to operatebetween a yield stress (Y) and an ultimate tensile strength (UTS).
 10. Aheadrest assembly for use in a vehicle comprising: a housing having afront portion and a rear portion; an armature operatively coupling therear portion to a seatback of an automobile seat; the front portionincluding a central panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;a first spring clip connecting the first side panel to a side of thecentral panel and a second spring clip connecting the second side panelto an opposite side of the central panel; and wherein the first springclip and second spring clip each include a cam portion to allow thefirst side panel and the second side panel to pivot about at least onesubstantially vertical axis relative to the central panel.
 11. Theheadrest assembly of claim 10, wherein the first side panel and thesecond side panel pivot in an opposite rotational directions about theat least one vertical axis between a non-adjusted position and anadjusted position.
 12. The headrest assembly of claim 10, wherein the atleast one vertical axis includes a first vertical axis and a secondvertical axis, the second vertical axis spaced from the first verticalaxis, and wherein the first side panel pivots about the first verticalaxis and the second side panel pivots about the second vertical axis.13. The headrest assembly of claim 12, wherein the first side panel andthe second side panel are each pivotable about their respective verticalaxis up to a rotational angle of 90 degrees.
 14. The headrest assemblyof claim 12, wherein the first side panel and the second side panel areeach pivotable about their respective vertical axis up to a rotationalangle of 45 degrees.
 15. The headrest assembly of claim 10, wherein thefirst spring clip and the second spring clip are each configured tooperate between a yield stress (Y) and an ultimate tensile strength(UTS).
 16. The headrest assembly of claim 10, wherein the first springclip and the second spring clip each include a tail portion staticallyconnected to the central panel.
 17. A headrest assembly for use in avehicle comprising: a housing having a front portion and a rear portion;an armature operatively coupling the rear portion to a seatback of anautomobile seat; the front portion including a central panel, a firstside panel, and a second side panel, wherein the first side panel pivotsrelative to the central panel about a first vertical axis, and thesecond side panel pivots relative to the central panel about a secondvertical axis; a first spring clip assembly connecting the first sidepanel to a side of the central panel and a second spring clip assemblyconnecting the second side panel to an opposite side of the centralpanel, the first and second spring clip assemblies maintaining anangular position of the first and second side panels absent manualadjustment.